Magnum Moon in solid field

OLDSMAR, Fla. – It’s not every day at Tampa Bay Downs that a first-level allowance race comes together like this.

Magnum Moon, with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure from his only start, is part of a solid group of 3-year-olds trying to prove themselves around two turns in the seventh race on a rare Thursday program here. The mile and 40-yard race is designed as a prep for the Tampa Bay Derby on March 10.

Arnaud Delacour will send out the uncoupled Vouch and Talon among a field of eight in the seventh race, which carries a $27,500 purse. First post for the eight-race card is 12:44 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 3:51.

Magnum Moon, bred and owned by Robert and Lawana Low, announced himself by winning his Jan. 13 debut at Gulfstream Park by 4 1/2 lengths, earning the big Beyer and joining a host of others on the Todd Pletcher shed row at Palm Beach Downs as a Kentucky Derby possibility. The Malibu Moon colt will break from post 8 with Luis Saez keeping the mount.

Pletcher also entered Hyndford (post 2, Jesus Castanon), a last-out winner of a $50,000 maiden-claiming mile at Gulfstream for owner Donegal Racing. Pletcher not only has a wide lead atop the Gulfstream standings, but also has six wins and two seconds from just nine starts at this 2017-18 meet at Tampa.

Vouch (post 4, Pablo Morales), third in the Grade 2 Remsen behind Catholic Boy in his most recent start, was scratched Saturday from the Sam F. Davis for what was supposed to be a far lighter spot. Delacour said the Yes It’s True colt will have to earn his way into the Tampa Bay Derby.

Six of the eight runners are Triple Crown nominees – Vouch and the Pletcher pair, as well as Talon (post 1, Daniel Centeno), Dreamer’s Point (post 3, Brian Pedroza), and Arazi Like Move (post 7, Scott Spieth).

Imperial Hint back on work tab

Imperial Hint, the standout sprinter who was second to Roy H in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in his last start at 4, returned to the work tab Saturday, breezing a halfmile in a bullet 47.40 seconds over a fast Tampa Bay Downs track.

Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said the 5-year-old Floridabred horse is a possible starter in the March 31 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Imperial Hint has earned triple-digit Beyers his last six starts, including a 109 in his last two.

Two stakes on Saturday

Two six-furlong stakes are on tap here for Saturday, and the Tampa racing office was expecting to get another horse eyeing the Golden Shaheen: X Y Jet, whose trainer, Jorge Navarro, said he intends to send the 6-year-old gelding across the peninsula from his Miami-area base for the $100,000 Pelican.

The filly-mare counterpart to the Pelican, the $50,000 Minaret, also will be run here Saturday. Entries were to be taken Wednesday.